Agitating apparatus



May 27, 1952 R. .1. BURKE AGITATING APPARATUS Filed Jlily 3, 1950 Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AGITATING APPARATUS Richard J. Burke, Corona Del Mar, Calif.

Application July 3, 1950, Serial No. 171,892

17 Claims.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for agitating uids or fluid entrained particles to attain various advantageous results, including in certain instances the agglomeration of such entrained particles and in other instances the intimate mixture of the substances agitated.

rIhough cyclon separators, electrical precipitators and the like will effectively remove entrained particles above a minimum size range from a fluid stream, the extremely small particles carried by such a stream resist separation by any of these usual expedients. To obviate this difficulty, an important object of the present invention is to provide apparatus usable in conjunction with a conventional separator to increase its efficiency of separation by agglomerating or uniting such small particles prior to the separating operation in a manner forming larger particles capable of effective removal by the separator. In certain of its aspects, the invention is particularly directed to the agglomeration of ne dust, liquid or other particles suspended in a gas, such as air.

In accordance with the invention, the min-utc uid entrained particles are agglomerated by passing the fluid stream through a nest of closely spaced vibrating wire-like elements whose energy of vibration is employed to drive the particles together and cause their union or integration. Specically, the elements are vibrated at a frequency and velocity sufliciently great that the entrained particles engaging the elements are struck oif at such high velocity as to agglomerate 'by impact with any of the other free particles which they may strike. If the particles are not of a nature to agglomerate by impact, or if tWo fluids are introduced into the device rather than a single iluid carrying suspended particles, the Vibrating wires then serve to uniformly disperse and intimately mix the materials in a highly effective and extremely rapid manner.

Preferably, the fluid or fluids are directed diagonally through the nest of elements, in either of the uses of the device, to assure maximum opportunity for contact of the fluids and particles with the Wires. At this point, it should be mentioned, that the term wire-like elements, as used herein, includes not only wires of circular cross section but also vibratable elongated elements of flat ribbon like design or of any other convenient cross sectional shape.

Under certain circumstances, sufficient vibration of the wire-like elements may possibly be produced by the movement of the fluid stream itself through the wires. However, I prefer to provide means for positively vibrating the elements to assure the development of adequate vibrating energy to effect the desired agglomeration or mixture. For this purpose, I may employ any conventional means for vibrating the wires, as for instance an electric solenoid actuated by a pulsating direct current or alternating current of suitable frequency.

It is contemplated that the most eiective vi brating frequency of the elements may vary in accordance with changes in such conditions as the rate of fluid ow or the materials handled. Consequently, I prefer to provide means for accurately controlling the frequency of vibration to produce optimum results under any given set of circumstances. As Will appear, suchrcontrol may be effected by either or both controlling the frequency at which the elements are driven by the vibrating power source or varying the tension and therefore the natural and harmonic frequencies of the elements. It is also noted that 'under certain circumstances it may be desirable to drive the elements at frequencies corresponding to the natural frequencies to which they are adjusted, while under other circumstances most satisfactory results may be attained by driving the elements at other than their natural frequencies.

y When the device is employed as an agglomerator, some of the composite particles formed by agglomeration may reach a size permitting their separation by gravity as they are passing through the nest of vibratable Wires. To permit such gravity separation of these relatively large particles, I may provide an outlety at the bottom of the agglomerator shell through which any separated particles are free to fall. Preferably, the walls of the shell converge downwardly beneath the nest of wires to direct the gravity separated particles into the bottom outlet. In this connection, a particular feature of the invention involves the provision of bale means withinV this lower downwardly converging portion of the shell for preventing a by-passing flow of the iluid across the underside of the nest of wires.

structurally, the wires may be supported byv and between one or more pairs of members mounted in spaced relation within a shell through which the uid stream is directed'. One of the members of each pair may be mounted stationarily with respect to the shell, while the other is free for relative vibration under the influence of an actuating solenoid or other power source. VVariation of the tensional force exerted on the wires is effected by adjustment of one of the mounting members relative'to the other.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a prefered form of agglomerator or mixer embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the apparatus taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 and showing especially the manner of mounting the end plate or member by which the Wires are vibrated; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken at the powered end of the apparatus and showing a variational form of the invention.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. l

through 3 comprisesessentially a shell i8 through which theiiuid passes from inlet Il to outlet I2, a nest of closely spaced vibratable wires I3 within the shell, an electric .solenoid I4 for vibrating the wires, a control device I5 for supplying to the solenoid through amplifier I6 a pulsating direct or alternating current of controllable frequency, and an outlet line I`I leading from the bottom of the shell through which some of the larger particles are discharged when the device is Aemployed as an agglomerator.

The upper portion of shell I is rectangular in fhorizontal section, having a pair of side walls walls of the shell converge downwardly at 23 to form a reduced dimension bot om opening 24 connected with and leading into the bottom cutlet I'I. A series of baflles 25 extend longitudinally of the shell within its lower converging portion to prevent a by-passing fluid now about the bottom of the wire nest. Lower outlet I'I may contain a suitable rdischarge controlling valve, as for instance butterfly type valve 26.

Wires ,I3 are stretched between and vibrated K by a pair of relatively movable transverse rectangular'plates or heads 21 and 28 positioned at the opposite ends of the shell and to which the wires'fare individually attached in any suitable manner. n along the inside of end wall of the shell, and is stationarily attached to that end wall by a number of bolts ZBcarrying outer adjusting nuts 30. The opposite plate 28 is supported and guided for limited horizontal movement both longitudinally and transversely of the shell by reception of a number of pins 3| carried by the plate 25 within horizontally elongated slots 32 in the end wall. A number of coil springs 33, preferably at least four positioned at the corners of the plate 28, urge that plate toward wall 2i and in a direction away from plate 2l' to longitudinally tension the Wires I3. Each of these springs bears at one end against a bracket projecting from the adjacent side wall of the shell and at the oppositeend against the enlarged head 34 of one of the pins 3I lte through it bear against thcvplate;V

Solenoid il is mounted in any suitable man- A first one of the plates 2'I extends lii ner, as by brackets 36, to the end wall 2| of the shell. Armature 3l of the solenoid connects with a lug I34 which projects outwardly from plate 28 through a flexible fluid sealing gland |32 in the end Wall 2I. The control or current supplying device I5 may be of any known type adapted to supply a pulsating direct or alternating current of controllable frequency to the solenoid. Amplifier I'B increases the value of the current produced by control device I5 to a value suicient for actuation of the solenoid and associated parts. If the solenoid is of a type adapted to positively actuate the plate in only one direction, a return spring may be provided, as typically illustrated at 50.

In preparing the device for use, nuts 33 are iirst adjusted to vary the tension exerted by springs 33 on wires I3 and to set the wires for natural vibration at a predetermined frequency found to be correctfor the particular operating conditions to be met. Controlling device I5 is then connected to a suitable source of current and adjusted to produce a pulsating direct or alternating current or" a given frequency, which may in certain circumstances be the same as the frequency to which the wires are adjusted. This current, as increased in value by amplifier I6, is passed through solenoid I4 to effect the vibration of armature 37, plate 28 and wires I3.

"'.hen the device is to be used as an agglomerator, a iluid stream carrying entrained particles is introduced into the shell IIJ through inlet II to pass diagonally across the shell and wires to outlet i 2. As the wires vibrate, they strike the minute particles carried by the fluid stream and drive them at high velocity into engagement in a manner effecting their union or agglomeration into larger and more easily separated particles. Some of Ithe enlarged particles are of sufficient weight to fall downwardly through the wires for discharge through outlet I?. The other particles pass from the device with the fluid stream for subsequent separation in their enlarged condition by any known form of separator.

if it is desired to use the device as a mixer, two o1' more uids, or one or more fluids carrying solid materials, may be introduced into the shell through inlet I. As these materials pass diagonally across the shell to the outlet, they are dispersed and intimately mixed by contact with the vibrating Wires.

Fig. 4 represents a variational form of the invention in .which separate groups of the wires are individually mounted and vibrated by separate pairs of plates 2l and 28 of the Fig. 1 form. Specically, this form of the invention employs at one end of the device a plurality of horizontally elongated end plates 28a serving together the function of the plate 28 in Fig. 1. Each plate 28o is mounted separately at its opposite ends by a pin and spring mounting generally indicated at Sla and corresponding to the mounting SI, 33, 35 of Fig. 3. The plates 28a are vibratable by individual solenoids ida, whose vibrating frequencies are individually controllable by separate electrical control devices such as that represented at I5 in Fig, 1. The stationary ends of the wires in the Fig. 4 form are mounted to a series of plates corresponding in size and shape to plates 28a and individually mounted for frequency regulating adjustment in the same manner as plate 21 in Fig. l.

I claim:

l. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a iiuid passing nestof elongated vibratable wire-like elements extending in closely spaced relation between said inlet and outlet, means for vibrating the elements, means for controlling the vibrating frequencies of said last mentioned means, and means for variably longitudinally tensioning the elements to controlla-bly vary their natural vibrating frequencies.

2. Apparatus for agglomerating particles carried by a fluid stream, comprising a shell having an inlet and an outlet between which fluid may flow along a generally horizontal path, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements extending in closely spaced relation between said inlet and outlet for agglomerating said particles as the fluid passes therethrough, the walls of said shell converging downwardly beneath said elements to a second outlet through which the heavier agglomerated particles may fall downwardly for separate discharge from the shell, and bafile means within said lower downwardly converging portion of the shell extending transversely of the horizontal path of the fluid through the shell to prevent by-passing flow of the iiuid about the underside of the elements.

3. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a uid inlet and a fluid outlet, a uid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements extending in closely spaced relation between said inlet and outlet, mounting means holding corresponding first ends of said elements stationary with respect to the shell, means for exerting a yielding tensioning force on the opposite ends of said elements, and means for vibrating said opposite ends of the elements,

4. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a fluid inlet and a iiuid outlet, a pair of members mounted in spaced relation within Vthe shell, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable closely spaced wirelike elements fastened at theiil opposite ends to said members and extending therebetween in the path of fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet, and means for adjusting the position of one of said members relative to the other to vary the tensioning force exerted on said elements and therefore their natural vibrating frequency.

5. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a uid inlet and a fluid outlet, a pair of members positioned in spaced relation within the shell, a nest of elongated vibratable closely spaced wire-like elements fastened at their opposite ends to said members and extending therebetween in the path of uid nowing from the inlet to the outlet, means mounting a first one of said members stationarily with respect to the shell, the second member being movable transversely of the elements, and means for vibrating said second member transversely of the elements to thereby vibrate the elements.

6. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a pair of end walls and a pair of opposite side walls containing an inlet and an outlet respectively, a pair of plates mounted adjacent said end walls within the shell, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable wirelike elements supported by and extending between said plates and through which the gas flows in passing from the inlet to the outlet, one of said plates being movable both longitudinally and transversely of the elements, a plurality of springs yieldingly urging said one plate longitudinally of the elements and away from the other plate to maintain the elements under tension, means for relatively adjusting the plates to vary the tensioning force exerted on the elements and therefore their natural vibrative frequency, an electric solenoid operable to vibrate said one plate transversely of the elements to thereby vibrate the elements, and means for supplying electric current of controllable frequency to the solenoid to vibrate the elements at a correspondingly controllable frequency.

'7. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a pair of opposite end walls and a pair of opposite side walls containing an inlet and an outlet respectively, a first set of plates positioned within the shell in side by side relation and near one of said end walls, a second set of side by side plates within the shell near its opposite end wall andA positioned opposite the plates of said rst set respectively, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable wirelike elements extending longitudinally within said shell, means fastening the opposite ends of separate groups of said elements to corresponding plates of. said two sets, means individually mounting the plates of one set for movement both longitudinally and transversely of the elements, a plurality of springs yieldingly urging the plates of said one set longitudinally of the elements and away from the other plates to maintain the separate groups of elements under tension, means for individually relatively adjusting the opposed pairs of plates 'to vary the tensioning force exerted on said groups of elements and therefore their natural vibrative frequencies, a plurality of electric solenoids operable to individually vibrate the plates of said one set transversely of the elements to thereby vibrate the elements, and means for supplying electric current of individually controllable frequencies to the solenoids respectively to individually vibrate the groups elements at correspondingly controllable frequencies.

8,. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a uid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening, a fluid directing conduit at the outside of the shell communicating with one of said openings, a iiuid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positionedwithin said shell in the path of fluid flow between said inlet and outlet, and means in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of the individual elements and longitudinally tensioning them, different ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced relation and passing fluid therebtween.

`9. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a fluid inlet opening and a uid outlet opening, a fluid directing conduit at the outside of the shell communicating with one of said openings, a uid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of fluid flow between said inlet and outlet, means in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of and longitudinally tensioning them, different ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced relation and passing fluid therebetween, and power energized means operable to vibrate -said elements while they are continuously tensioned. y

l0. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a fiuid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening, a iiuid directing conduit at the outside of the shell communicating with one of said openings, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of uid ow between said inlet and outlet, means in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of and longitudinally tensioning them, said last mentioned means being adjustable to vary the tension of said elements, different ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced relation and passing fluid therebetween, and power energized means operable to vibrate said elements while they are continuously tensioned.

1l. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a uid inlet opening and a luid outlet opening, a luid directing conduit at the outside of the shell communicating with one of said openings, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of uid flow between said inlet and outlet, means in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of and longitudinally tensioning them, different ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced relation and passing fluid therebetween, and power energized means operable to individually vibrate separate groups of said elements while they are continuously tensioned.

12. Apparatus for agglomerating particles carried by a fluid stream comprising a shell having a uid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening, a pair of conduits at the outside of the shell directing fluid to and from said inlet and outlet openings respectively, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of fluid flow between said inlet and outlet, and means in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of the individual elements and longitudinally tensioning them, diierent ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced relation and passing fluid therebetween.

13. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a fluid inlet opening and a iluid outlet opening, a fluid directing conduit at the outside of the shell communicating with one of said openings, a uid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of 'fluid flow between said inlet and outlet, means in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of the individual elements and longitudinally tensioning them, diierent ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced relation and passing fluid therebetween, power energized means operable to vibrate said elements While they are continuously tensioned, and control means for controllably varying the vibrating frequency of said last mentioned means.

14. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a fluid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening, a fluid directing conduit at the outside of the shell communicating with one of said openings, a uid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of fluid flow between said inlet and outlet, means in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of the individual elements and longitudinally tensioning them, different ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced generally parallel and side by side relation and passing fluid therebetween.

15. Mixing apparatus comprising a shell adapted to contain materials to be mixed and having an inlet through which said materials are admitted thereinto, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of fluid ow between said inlet and outlet, means in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of the individual elements and longitudinally tensioning them, different ones of said individual elements being inclosely spaced relation and passing uuid therebetween, and power energized means operable to vibrate said elements while they are continuously tensioned.

16. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a uid inlet and a iiuid outlet, a uid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of iluid iiow between said inlet and said outlet, mounting members in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of the individual elements and longitudinally tensioning them, different ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced relation and passing iluid therebetween, and a power energized vibrator operable to vibrate said elements while they are continuously tensioned by said mounting members.

17. Agitating apparatus of the character described comprising a shell having a fluid inlet anda fluid outlet, a fluid passing nest of elongated vibratable wire-like elements positioned within said shell in the path of iiuid now between said inlet and said outlet, mounting members in addition to said elements engaging opposite ends of the individual elements and longitudinally tensioning them, diierent ones of said individual elements being in closely spaced relation and passing duid therebetween, and an electrically energized vibrator operable to vibrate said elements while they are continuously tensioned by said mounting members.

RICHARD J. BURKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 862,856 Tygard Aug. 6, 1907 973,921 Dodge Oct. 25, 1910 1,482,607 Gow Feb. 5, 1924 1,842,232 Baker Jan. 19, 1932 2,254,448 Pursel Sept. 2, 1941 2,452,661 Kinney et al Nov` 2, 1948 i 

